. >> reporter: states of emergency have been declared in north carolina, virginia, maryland, and massachusetts. strong waves from earl are ripping into beaches all along the east coast. in delaware, life guards rescued two children from rip current. >> couldn't breathe for a few seconds, and i got really sc scared. >> reporter: even if the worst of earl stays far from land, the storm could do $1 billion to $2 billion in damage from north carolina to maine, and emergency workers still are not convinced the storm is staying away. >> the smallest predicted hurricane can become the most major and the most destructive, so you really don't know. none of us know what's going to happen until tomorrow. >> reporter: emergency officials here, as well as local business owners, are hoping by tomorrow, they're reopening for business for a long labor day weekend rather than cleaning up. erica. >> hill: kelly cobiella, kelly, thanks. earl may actually lose some of its punch by the time it reaches the northeast tomorrow, but it is still the strongest hurricane to threaten the coast of new york and new jersey s